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Saturday, November 19, 2005

Patron Saint of TV

Who says the Church doesn’t cover all its bases? Did you know there is a patron saint of TV? A good friend bought a little statue of St. Clare, Patron Saint of Television for me not long after I assumed responsibility for the TV business at Sony Electronics. We placed the statue on the office credenza and the market share results have been improving ever since!

Clare was born on July 11, 1194 in Assisi, Italy to the Count Faverone Offreduccio. After hearing Saint Francis of Assisi preach in the streets, she confided to him here desire to live for God. On Palm Sunday 1212 she ran away from her parents’ palace during the night, and took the veil of religious profession from St. Francis.

In 1215 Clare move to the church of St. Damiano, was made Superior by Francis and led the convent for forty years. It was here she took a vow of poverty and founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares). Everywhere the Franciscans established themselves the Poor Clares would follow with their convents.

She was credited with many miracles. In 1241 her prayers saved Assisi from the besieging soldiers of Emperor Frederick II. Toward the end of her life, when she was too ill to attend Mass, an image of the service appeared on the wall of her room, and she could hear the singing in the church, just as if she had been present. Pope Pius XII proclaimed Clare the patron saint of television in 1958 because of this vision.